Water ski



R. M. COX

March 1, 1960 WATER SKI Filed July 15, 1958 RICHARD M. Cox

United States Patent WATER SKI Richard M. Cox, Knoxville, Tenn.

Application July 15, 1958, Serial No. 748,696

r 4 Claims. c1. 9-310 This invention relates to a water ski.

The object ofthe invention is to provide a water ski which is adapted to be made of a plurality of tubes that are connected together such as aluminum tubes, whereby V the ski will be buoyant so that the ski can be used as a life preserver in the event of an emergency. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a water ski which includes a main body member that is made up of a plurality of hollow tubes that are secured to gether, and wherein the tubes are of cylindrical formation and have a rounded or curved lower surface so that the ski will have good stability and wherein the ski can be used with a greater degree-of safety since in the event that a person falls in the water, the ski will support a person so that there will be less likelihood of drowning or other serious mishaps occurring.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a water ski which is constructed so that it can be used with greater safety than water skis of other types or constructions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a water ski that is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.-

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying. drawings, forming a part .of this application, and in whichlike numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same. 1

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the water ski constructed according to the present inventim.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the water ski of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the water ski of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral designates the water ski of the present invention, and the water ski 10 includes a body member which is indicated generally by the numeral 11, and the body'member 11 includes a major straight portion 12, and a front curved portion 13.

The water ski consists of a plurality of inner tubes 14, and an outer tube 15. The outer tube 15 includes a pair of spaced parallel side sections 16 which have front curved portions 17 that extend upwardly, and the curved portions 17 are interconnected by means of an arcuate or curved web or connecting portion 18.

As shown in the drawings, the inner tubes 14 include straight sections 19 and upwardly curved front sections 20 which are secured as by welding to the web 18.

The various tubes such as the tubes 14 and 15 are arranged in the same plane as for example as shown in Figure 4, and these tubes are secured together as by welding. The tubes are of hollow cylindrical formation and have lower rounded surfaces 22 which insure that 2,926,364 Patented Mar. 1, 1960 the water skiwill have a high degree of stability. The tubes further have upper curved or rounded surfaces 23.

Secured to the upper surface of the tubes in any suitable manner as for example by welding, is a plate 24, and the numerals 25 and 26 indicate heel and toe engaging members which are connected to the plate 24.

Arranged at the rear of the body member 11 and secured to the undersurface thereof as by welding is a triangular shaped fin which is indicated generally by the numeral 27. It is to be noted as shown in Figure 2 for example, that the rear portion of the fin 27 is of increased elevation, while the front portion of the fin 27 merges into the body member.

The numeral 28 indicates in Figure 5 a plug which can be used for closing off the rear end of each of the tubes so that the tubes will be air and watertight whereby the water ski 10 will be buoyant. Thus, in the event a per-' son accidentally falls into the water, the ski 10 can be used as a life preserver so that the person will be kept afloat.

In addition, the water ski- 10 is constructed of a plurality of hollow tubes such as aluminum tubes whereby the water ski is light in weight and rugged and efficient to use. I

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a water ski which is adapted to be made from suitable tubing such as the aluminum tubes shown in the drawings. However, the tubes can be made of other material besides aluminum.

It is noted that according to the present invention a plurality of tubes are secured together as by welding, and the tubes are shaped to include the major straight portion 12 and the front inclined or upwardly curved portion 13. The tubes are buoyant or hollow whereby in the event a person accidentally falls into the water,

safety device since it will maintain theperson in the -water afloat until the person can reach shore or until ,a

rescue canbe effected.

According to the present invention the tubes 14 and 15 are of cylindrical formation as shown -in Figure 4 for example, whereby the lower surfaces are rounded as at 22 and this rounded arrangement insures that the water ski will have increased stability so that there will be less likelihood of the water ski tipping over or moving from its proper position. The rear ends of the tubes can be closed off by means of the plugs 28 which can be secured in place in any suitable manner, as for example by welding, Figure 5. There is further provided the fin 27 which helps increase stability as well as provide a device that insures that the water ski will move through the water with the proper action.

The plate 24 which supports the heel and toe engaging members 25 and 26 is adapted to be secured as by welding to the upper surfaces of the tubes, Figure 1. It is to be understood that a pair of the water skis of the present invention are adapted to be used by the water skier so that one water ski will be provided for each foot or leg;

The outer tube 15 is shaped to include the side section 16 and the upwardly curved front portion 17 as well as the interconnecting arcuate web 18. The inner tubes 14 include the straight portions 19 and the upwardly inclined or curved portions 20 which are secured as by welding to the portions 17 and 18 of the outer tube 15. This arrangement provides a water ski of unitary construction wherein the ends of all the various tubes are closed off or made air and watertight so that the device will have the required or desired amount of buoyancy.

Furthermore, it is to be noted that the completed ski has no sharp edges or rough surfaces so that there will portion of said body member.

also -be' constructedof any suitable material suchas Fiberglas or the like. The convex surfaces or--curved surfaces of the tubing increase the lateral stability of the user. "-The. fin 27 has a triangular shape so that it tapers rmerges into the ski-as for example asshown in"-Figure 2. 'The fin 27 .can also be made of aluminum-and can be welded onto the ski approximately 6 inches from the -rear end.

'When using skis, such as'theskis of the presentinvention persons can ski safely and with increased pleasure and satisfaction and the skis will support a 'heavy person orload. Furthermore, the 'skis may be anodized so as -to help insure that the aluminum tubingwill not besubject to corrosion from salt water or the like.

-Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of 'details coming within the field of inventionclaimed-may -be resorted to in-actual practice, if desired.

"Lclaim:

1. A water ski comprising-a body memberincluding'a plurality of hollow tubes, the major portions of said tubes being straight and lying in the same plane, said tubes including inner tubes, and an outer'tubehaving spaced parallel side sections, the side sectionsof said outer tube being straight and being arranged in'spaced parallel relation with respect to each otherythefront portions of said side sections being curved upwardly and "-being' interconnected by an arcuate 'web, thefront por- -tions-ofsaid inner tubes being curved upwardly and'secured to said web, and a fin secured to-the lower rear '2. A water ski comprising a body member including a plurality of hollow tubes, themajor portions of said tubes being straight and lying in the same plane, said tubes including inner tubes, and an outer tube having spaced parallel side sections, the side sections of said outer tube being straight and being arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to each other, the front portions of said side sections being curved upwardly and being interconnected by an arcuate web,the-front portions of said inner tubesbeingcuryed upwardly and secured to said web, and a fin secured to the lower rear portion of said body-memberysaidfin -having-a triangular shape and wherein the rear portion of the ,fin. is of increased size, the front of the fin merging into the body member.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2, and further including a plate secured to the upper surface of said tubes, and heel and toe engaging members connected to said plate.

Q 4. Awaterski comprisinga' body member'including a plurality of hollow tubes,'the major portions of --said :tubes being straight'and lying in thesame plane, said tubes-including'inner tubes, andan outer tube having spaced parallel-side sections, the side sections of said outer tube' being straight and being arranged in' spaced parallel relation with respect to each other, the front portions of said side sections being curved upwardly and beinginterconnected by an-arcuate web, the front-portions of said inner tubes being curved =upwardly andsecured to side web, and a fin secured to the lower'rear por- -t'ionofsaid bodymember, saidfin-having a triangular shape:.and--wherein=therear portion of the -fin is of increased size,'-the'front of the fin-merging into the body member, a plate secured to the 'upper' surface of certain =of-saidtubes, heel and toe engaging members connected '-to-said plate,-said tubes being-airtight, and plugs closing the "rear ends of said tubes, said tubes being-made of aluminum.

Sato June 18, 1940 Bridges Jan.*7, 1958 Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 92,396 involving Patent No. 2,926,364, R. M. Cox,

' Water ski, final decision adverse to the patentee was rendered July 16, 1963,

asto claim 1.

[Oflicz'al Gazette September 3, 1.963.] 

